Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-02-20
i STRANGE TESTIMONY.

L;.b NJ were atterWard concerned, at a
s~,,,s health resort in California. She
woman of three-and-twenty, per-
tall graceful, and of ideal eoloring.
at o~pposite to me at the table d'hote,
chen she first lifted her eyes to mine
..,rted uncoutrollably. They were won
ii ewes. dark tender, with a certain
ralish appeal in them which stirred all
Rivalry in a mans nature in response.
Questionable, soured old bcchelOr
Twas. | found myself on the instant
,,;rr 70 protect this beautiful creature,
,,s exceedingly well cared for, APP
...rtIv. and had no need of my protec-
tion whatever.
NJ Westhayen was the most discomfort
lacking man l ever saw. Thin, dark,
It's and with q nervous irritability OF
MIR which never varied except when
,IIr,s,ns his wife's sister, Miss. Cariyon,
,,b,m he showed the most afFectionate
on>idcntion.
Miss Carlyou, for whose health Mr.. and
A. W,sthaven were travelling, was 4 del
tr,cile creature, and except for a
nt contour of the faces there was
thin, 10 betray the relationship between
,bt tao women.
", n,i been nearly ! month in the hotel
Tim. I became acquainted with Westha-
His manner WAS most cordial, and
=. ,ll me he had asked for this introduce
ion swing that l was not unknown to
him by reputation, and speaking in the
limbs. wav of the success had achieved
..rrtin electrical experiments. He also
,,fl,i to me his own deep interest in
.,rifr> Of a like nature.
Mrs WrsthAven met me with great kind
rrI Miss Carlyon raised her head
rhr cushions Of her chair and gave me
,.,y hlnI like a birds claw. which was
-, IN my .r,>p. She WAS a weird, uncanny
t,,rr creature. with glistering eyes full of
..,ESs suspicious questioning, a marNe-
r,r.fy white skin, and a thin, cruel mouth.
,nwplrlSlnt face altogether, though with
..,r claims To pvrttineSS, and one from
nr..I / .Ildiv turned to gaze upon that OI
her beautiful sister.
Thfyr a ~pl>ionatc admiration of beauty
., v,mru. and Mrs. WeSthaven'S beauty
Ms Ff,l,Ss and extended over her entire
r.~.rtlitv. to her delicate finger tips, to
her lr,hrl. exquisite feet, her graceful,
r-rfrt pu>e. her Swaylng carriage.
NJ Wr>thavcu WAS a charming host
traveller. cultured, and treating OF many
,b,r.S with a brilliant CHANGING satire
u1-.b showed that he WAS a close, If not a
kind student of human nature. Miss
C,-Euu WIS evidently IN sympathy with
hmm mon most subjects, and would often.
.,rry nlt his idea gracefully from the point
vhrr, Er left il. She was intelligent, well
rraI aad witty.
,u.r nv first evening with this siugu-
rr family group | went out upon che
mai To indulge in a speculative smoke.
.r,aL I am not Il curious person. | have
n-sr,-l myself aIl my life upon Indifference
q, ,r- I~tftlrS and interests OF other people,
Inn .a.rr waS about this family, in spite
o, .,a.'r breeding and ease of manner, an
..m.>prrrr Of mystery which provoked, If
Dab. ..~..-tJgltion. ut least speculation. l
determined tu sec more OF them.
W,-,hayrn gave me every opportunity.
n. ,rs.ut me- upon all occasions, ami
,.u.riu iundueSs for my society and a
r~grur tor my opinions which could not
lur hitter me from 50 young and So bril-
r.,l man. His culture was remarkable
ami his information widely extended. He
hal been a close student all his life, he
>Il until now. About his present inter
~, he WIS strangely rcticent, and OF his
family he never spoke, saw IN a most cas-
UI nav. rarely saw him the afternoons
whatever his occupation or study, 1t en-
rr.,-r,i him then. end having grown SUIT
r.f-rrly intimate with him to warrant my
,,.a. Informally and unanuounccd to hs
rums. I found that I'M the afternoon was
rarely admitted.
Nr> W,Sthaveu walked and drove out,
constantly attracting attentionand admlra-
ton wherever she WAS seen. She had a
certain individuality of style, which be-
lpyrl rev from her perfect unconscious
n>s of her beauty and the conspicuous pO-
s,tion she occupied i'm public. Once
snake of her wonderful l~OvelineSS to her
husband. lie received my enthusiastic
observations IN moody silence, and the eN-
preston OF discomfort deepened on his
handsome face.
Ihri. OF course. long before this come
'u,hr conclusion that Westhaven was un-
happily married, and | more than hall suS-
,..-I that he had awakened To a terrible
certainty that he had married the wrong
Mss U.rlvon. This thought | tried to
o.Nrml eyes upon rs an unworthy SuS-
r.rirn against u man who showed me a
ma,Irut,ion that | have rarely met with
30 .u. which was certainly unusual from
amrrr acquaintance.
persisted not without many dlSeOur-
a-rm~nt~. In my determination to know
N> Wr>thayen better, and my success was
q, LAST crowned bv a most Disappointing
discovery. She had what | ut first be
.rgol to Pee nm aversion to conversation.
newer heard her say anything even In the
WAY Of q reply, which contained M I'M
g1r,>Irv word. and If she ever volunteered
ar-ml.s 10 must have been i'm the privacy
% her OWN chamber. Vet she was neither
olIrnt nor il~-tcmpered, On the con-
'rrg. hrr oppression wgS pleased and pleas
~. and her pretty smile was always upon
Der lips.
IIurlrd she might have a peculiar bent
", mind and c]ndeayored To discover it. l
ended hv satisfying myself beyond a
enh, rhl, she possessed no mind at all.
80 Was simply an exquisite and empty
1,art -l beautiful mindless, sOulleSs thing
lrrrItGrr without seuSibilitieS, or even
or elpacrty OF receiving impressions. TIE
emotions of living creatures, the passive
"'r.nr>, ot inanimate objects, the fra
s-'nrr oi flowers. the charm of music, the
"%onirr'n', ever changing interest of the
Whole created world passed before her un-
<rin- eyes, fell upon her christening ears,
.ri her calm, untouched with that change
.N unmranjng smile forever curving her
.-lHtuu! mouth.
When I made this discovery | knew that
"-,hIycn'> life was a burden to him. For
t4n ot his delicate. sensitive, p~erceptiye
11l.'y and deep. almost tender, appreci-
a.Nl 90 the fD.r rh,-..s of axiSfanRR the